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Top Reflections of the Decade

December 30, 2019 by Kelly Nash 2 Comments

The last few days of December has always been a time I genuinely look forward to. After all of the holiday festivities and quality time with family and friends, I typically find myself back at home, able to pause and reflect on the last year.

It’s so important to set time aside to reflect and acknowledge how far we’ve come and what lessons we’ve learned. This way, we can go into the upcoming year with more of a “blank slate” mindset and set realistic goals for ourselves of what we hope to accomplish.

As I look back on this last year in particular, I’m filled with quite a few different emotions. Overall, it was a very happy year, full of travels (Italy, Denver, Wilmington, Charleston and Arizona), many family gatherings (especially over the holidays), outings with friends, and a critical year of professional growth at Salesforce and with Lipstick & Ink. But on the flip side, there was also tragic losses of a friend and family friend, family illnesses that came about and tough lessons I had to learn. Similarly to 2018, it was a year of growth for me that I believe is ultimately setting me up for a flourishing 2020.

When I thought about writing this post, I thought about recapping the past year (like I have in the past), but decided that I wanted to instead focus on this last decade. With the 2010’s coming to a close, I’m looking back on everything that happened this last decade and recapping some of my favorite memories, lessons learned, and the areas of my life where I challenged and pushed myself to grow. Check them out below!

Kelly sits on her balcony and writes in her notebook.

If I had to describe the decade in 3 words, they would be:

Pivotal, transformative & eye-opening.

One thing from the decade that I’m most proud of personally or professionally:

I think in general, I’m proud that I have always thought ahead and pushed myself to go after what I want, even when I know I’ll be scared or uncomfortable. One of those instances was undoubtedly launching Lipstick & Ink. I was nervous about showing vulnerability and putting myself out there on the internet and subjecting myself to potential judgment and criticism. But I knew focusing on my writing and helping others with my words was what I needed to feel fulfilled in my life, so I persevered. And I’m so glad I followed through in that because I’ve accomplished things I had never thought of doing, all because I launched this little blog of mine.

My biggest challenge this decade:

That’s a toss-up. It’s between the hardships I had at my first job and the break-ups I’ve had with friends over the decade.

A few months into my first job out of college at a global media agency in downtown Chicago, I was placed onto a new, under-staffed team and the hours started to get longer and longer as a result. I was learning a lot but I found myself working consistent 14-hour days and living a very unhealthy lifestyle. I remember coming home crying a lot and being frustrated that I ate all my meals at work and had no time for myself to spend time with friends, work out and do the other things I loved to do. It was a really dark time in my life, but it did teach me to never settle for less than what I deserve and to always speak up, despite what the consequences may be. I did everything in my power to instill changes within the team, going all the way up the chain to the Group Director and then walking into the HR office to address my concerns. Unfortunately, nothing changed, but that’s when I knew I deserved better and left the company.

I mentioned in my post about my shrinking friend circle that I’ve had friends come and go through the years, but some of those have included confusing and difficult “break-ups.” In the end, I know we’re better off not being in each others’ lives anymore, but at the times the break-ups were happening, the people pleaser in me desperately wanted to make amends and do everything in my power to fix the friendship. It was a challenge for me to hear negative words about me come out of my friends’ mouths or to be completely cut off with no explanation. I saw a quote on Pinterest the other day that really struck a chord with me though that stated:

“Stop chasing people. If they block you, cut off contact, ignore you…let them go. Let those who naturally gravitate to you enjoy your energy. We spend so much time begging for those who wouldn’t blink twice at the thought of you. Cherish those who are there by choice, and not there because you chased them every time they decided to escape.”

What I’ve accepted from these challenges with friendships is that:

  • We can’t control other people’s opinions – we can only control how we react (or don’t react) to them
  • The friends we keep aren’t always good for us so it’s often better we let them go
  • Some of the friends we make are only supposed to be in our lives for a short time

My favorite days of the decade:

Our wedding day (September 23, 2017) was undoubtedly my favorite day of the decade. Having all of Adam’s and my family and friends in one place was so special. It ended up being the hottest day of the year and broke a weather record (a whopping 95 degrees) and the A/C on our trolley blew out as a result 😂 so it was not only a day full of love, but also a lot of sweat and laughter.

Kelly and Adam in front of the Congress Hotel.

Our engagement day (November 1, 2015) was also a pivotal day of the decade. It was a beautiful, warm fall day in Chicago and Adam proposed at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond in Lincoln Park, with a photographer capturing the special moment! We happily called all of our closest family and friends afterward and went to a delicious Italian dinner downtown afterward.

The day Adam and I took a cruise through Milford Sound in New Zealand in November 2017 ended up being a favorite of mine because we were in such an untouched, pure part of the world and got to witness dolphins, seals and penguins in their natural habitat. Plus, any time I get the chance to get on a boat, I’m a very happy girl!

Kelly and Adam stand on a boat in Milford Sound.

Adam’s and my last day in Paris in May 2018 is one of my favorites days of the decade too. We walked up the hill in Montemarte and stumbled upon a square of different artists selling their work. We ended up purchasing a piece of art that now hangs in the living room of our condo which always brings back happy memories of that day. We ended that day on the Seine for a sunset river cruise. We watched the sun go down over the beautiful city of love and I truly felt like I was in a movie.

Adam and Kelly stand next to Pavlos, a Parisian artist.

Lastly, I had coordinated a 15-year reunion for my grade school class back in the summer of 2018.  I know, it sounds super weird – who does grade school reunions? But we were a tight knit group, since we went to a Catholic grade school and were together kindergarten through 8th grade and only had 56 people in our class. We all met at the local dive bar in our hometown and a lot of our parents showed up and we drank the night away. The priest who was at our church when we went to school even showed up! 😆 It was a hilarious blast of the past kind of night.

St. Gilbert alumni at Charlies in Grayslake, IL.

New habits I cultivated:

At the beginning of the decade, I was still in college and not treating my body in the right way. I was eating unhealthy foods and binge-drinking multiple days a week. I secretly hated drinking all the time but I didn’t want to be called “lame” or have FOMO, so instead, I conformed. And because of that and what I was putting into my body, I never felt 100% happy.

It really wasn’t until I left my first job after college that I was able to get both my physical and mental health on track. I discovered Classpass and developed an exercise routine particularly with barre and pilates, two workouts I now absolutely love. I learned the right foods for me to put in my body and focused on making more whole and clean meals at home. I went to therapy to work on my mental health and anxiety. Oh, and I stopped binge-drinking (for the most part anyhow 🙃). I’m so glad I’m ending the decade in a much healthier way!

The thing that scared me most:

A few years ago, I was asked to speak at Salesforce Chicago World Tour. Except, I wasn’t really asked, it was more like a “hey, we need a speaker so you’re going to do this.” It was only a few days before the conference and I had to memorize a talk track for a 45 minute session I’d be co-leading in front of over 200 Salesforce clients. I haven’t been that terrified in a long time and I remember having to really calm myself down moments before the session started, as I have social anxiety and public speaking is one of my biggest fears (something I’m working on). In the end, I powered through it and felt a surge of excitement afterward. I learned from that experience that doing the things that scare us is ultimately what is going to help us grow and feel accomplished.

My best purchase of the decade:

My condo in Chicago has been my best (and most expensive) purchase. Adam and I purchased it before turning 30 and we felt a sense of achievement from being able to do that. For four years prior to that, we lived in what felt like a shoebox while we saved money for our down payment. But in the end, it was worth it. While our first official home may be on the smaller side, it’s a home I can call my own in a neighborhood that I love.

My biggest career break-through moment:

Landing my job at Salesforce was a huge break-through for me professionally. Salesforce wasn’t even on my radar and it came about because I reached out to a previous contact I had met that had worked at another company I was interviewing at. As we got to talking over the phone, he mentioned that Salesforce too was hiring for a similar role. I interviewed and was told I got the job – but then Salesforce went on a hiring freeze for over three months. I waited it out, crossing my fingers that the role would open up again. After what seemed like forever, I ended up getting hired at a time when Salesforce was on the upswing and growing quickly. It’s been an honor to be a part of the growth these last 5 years and work for a company that was dubbed the #1 Place to Work in the World last year.

Kelly at Salesforce Connections 2018.

The biggest positive impact on my life this decade:

Hands down, my husband, Adam. He’s brought so much love to my life. He truly is my other half and my best friend. I feel incredibly lucky to have met him back in 2011 at Homecoming at our alma mater. How we never met in college still baffles us, considering we had so many mutual friends. But I believe everything happens for a reason and that was when we were meant to meet! We have created so many incredible memories together since then and I can only imagine what the next decade will bring.

Adam and Kelly on their wedding day.

Top things in my day to day that I loved:

  • Being outside, whether that’s sitting on my balcony with a book or writing in my journal, going for a walk, or sitting on a patio at a local Chicago restaurant during the summer
  • Working on everything Lipstick & Ink and getting back into my writing
  • Helping or teaching others, whether it be my clients with the Salesforce products they purchased, my contacts who need guidance when it comes to their careers or their resumes and cover letters, or my friends who want my opinion on something
  • Being able to set aside time for me to relax on the couch and watch TV
  • Hugging Adam and telling each other “I love you” any time he or I leave our home or before we go to bed

My favorite travels of the decade:

I didn’t travel a lot growing up, but I always had this inherent urge to see the world. I didn’t really get the opportunity to travel a lot until I started making my own money and putting it towards trips I wanted to take. This last decade, I’ve traveled more than I ever have and I’ve been to many placed I’ve always wanted to see. The two standouts are New Zealand (for Adam’s and my honeymoon) and Paris. We loved Paris so much that we are going again next spring!

Kelly and Adam stand in front of the Notre Dame in Paris, France.

Something I wish could have happened this decade:

My junior year of college, I begged my parents to let me study abroad. It seemed like I was the only one of my friends not getting the opportunity to go and I desperately wanted to have that experience. Unfortunately, the only way I was going to go was if I got their sign-off and because they were adamantly against it, I didn’t get the chance to study in Manchester, England (where I wanted to go). It still to this day remains the one thing I really wished I could have done.

What I wish I had done better:

I can get anxious and frustrated easily, especially when things are out of my control. This usually causes my patience level to dip and I find myself getting pretty snippy and short with people. I’ve let my emotions get the best of me over this last decade from time to time and I wish I could have controlled that part of me better. It’s a constant work in progress, but my hope is in 2020 and beyond that I can calm myself down more and always come from a place of kindness and patience.

What I overcame this decade:

The biggest thing I’ve overcome this decade has been the fear of judgment. It’s not to say that I magically don’t care what others think anymore because I truthfully still struggle it from time to time. But overall, I’ve pushed myself to do things this decade that I knew would maybe rub people the wrong way or lead me to be talked about behind my back but I’ve learned to stay authentic and true to myself and do my best to not pay attention to other people’s negative thoughts or feedback.

My biggest lessons of the decade:

I wrote last year’s reflection post about life lessons that I learned in 2018 and I’d say those six lessons I wrote about are my top lessons of the decade:

  • Hard work will always pay off
  • Continually push yourself out of your comfort zone
  • Focus on quality friendships and surround yourself with those who inspire you and motivate you to be better
  • Accept the things you cannot change
  • Remember to slow down and appreciate the journey and celebrate accomplishments (#IAmRemarkable)
  • Be unapologetically yourself and stay true to who you are

What I’m looking forward to doing in the next year:

I’m really looking forward to writing and finishing my first book in 2020. I’m also looking forward to heading to Africa to volunteer in February and immersing myself in a culture I’ve never been exposed to.

What I want to achieve in the next 10 years:

I want to:

  • continue volunteering, giving back and making an impact
  • publish my book & ultimately write more books
  • grow Lipstick & Ink – in whatever way that may be
  • continue growing my career at Salesforce
  • start a family

Kelly in Charleston, SC.

What I will stop, start, and continue in the next decade:

  • I will stop wasting so much time on social media and focusing more of my time on the things I actually want to do, such as write, read and exercise.
  • I will start going to bed earlier and getting up earlier to have more productive days (I need to banish my inner night owl)!
  • I will continue being authentic to who I am and following my passions, despite my self-doubt and fears.

I hope you have a happy and healthy new year and roaring ’20s decade ahead. It’s going to be a good one.

Pink lipstick stain

Kelly, Founder of Lipstick & Ink
Kelly Nash

Kelly Nash is a Chicago-based writer, speaker, career advisor, and founder of Lipstick & Ink®. In addition, she works full-time in technology as a Success Manager at Salesforce and has over 10 years of digital marketing experience. Kelly has been featured in Thrive Global, International Association of Women, General Assembly, Salesforce, SheFactor, and Six Degrees Society. She is also in the process of writing her first book.

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Filed Under: thoughts, life Tagged With: life, life changes, personal thoughts, reflections

About Kelly Nash

Kelly Nash is a Chicago-based writer, speaker, career advisor, and founder of Lipstick & Ink®. In addition, she works full-time in technology as a Success Manager at Salesforce and has over 10 years of digital marketing experience. Kelly has been featured in Thrive Global, International Association of Women, General Assembly, Salesforce, SheFactor, and Six Degrees Society. She is also in the process of writing her first book.

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Comments

  1. Reid Wiersema says

    January 1, 2020 at 11:19 pm

    Very good Kelly! I enjoyed reading your post. I’ve never been to New Zealand or Paris and they both look amazing. Regarding Salesforce, I think I saw your company listed in the recent Chicago Tribune publication about the city and state’s best place to work. Sounds really awesome. You are so organized. Keep up the great work!

    Thanks,
    Reid

    Reply
    • Kelly Nash says

      January 2, 2020 at 10:47 am

      Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts, Reid! NZ and Paris are incredible, I’d definitely add them both to your bucket list! Have a happy new year!!

      Reply

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Kelly, Founder of Lipstick & Ink

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[𝙽𝙴𝚆 𝙱𝙻𝙾𝙶 𝙿𝙾𝚂𝚃] 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥. While certainly an overused term, it’s definitely not overrated. Personal branding is more important than ever as it helps you to 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙪𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧, 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧. Regardless if you work in the corporate world or consider yourself an entrepreneur (or both!), knowing and cultivating your personal brand is essential.
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Because here’s the thing – you already have a personal brand, whether you realize it or not. 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱. However, understanding the power of your brand can be difficult and requires self-awareness, intention, and action.
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If you’re unsure or curious about how to get started with building and boosting your brand, I've developed a 5 step formula to do just that! You can read more about these 5 steps and your best path forward in L&I's newest blog post, found via the link in my bio!💋
3 years ago today, I pressed “Publish” on Lips 3 years ago today, I pressed “Publish” on Lipstick & Ink. Even though it was only a blog at the time, I was terrified to put myself out there. I worried about what people would think about me, wondered if my site was good enough, and questioned if what I was writing would even resonate or help others.
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At the same time, it was exhilarating and freeing. I was finally writing again, something that had been a passion of mine since I was a kid. I was in my purpose, sharing my knowledge of how I had grown my career and guiding women on how they could do the same. And most of all, I was pushing myself out of my comfort zone, facing fears I had avoided for years.
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Since February 22, 2018, I have grown more than I thought possible. From my blog to expanding to events to speaking to advising clients to writing my first book, I continue to find ways to grow L&I and make an impact. And I can feel in my bones this is only the beginning.

Through these last 3 years, if I could share one piece of advice as to what I’ve learned , it’s this: OWN YOUR POWER. Own the power of yours that’s generated from within, not outside of yourself. Your authentic power. Don’t give your power away. Don’t allow the thoughts of others to get in your way. Don’t compare yourself to others and wonder how you will measure up. Don’t hold back on what you want to do because you are concerned about how others are going to feel about it.
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There is always a choice to make in terms of whether you decide to own your power or give it away. And these days, I choose my power. I choose me. My hope is that you too honor who you are and choose yourself. Because when you choose yourself, you set yourself free💋
We live in a world of 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 We live in a world of 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 - and let's be honest, we have gotten reaaal accustomed to it. So much so, that we may be easily disappointed when something doesn't immediately go our way - including when it comes to our careers. Whether it's seeking a promotion or landing a job at your dream company, we need to remember that it may take longer than we like or anticipate.
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Most of the time, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒍𝒚. This is why it's critical to ᴘʟᴀɴᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴇᴇᴅ early on to begin preparing to reach your next career goal. For example:⠀
🌱 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Start making an effort to connect with your manager periodically to discuss your career growth. Voice that you are aiming for a promotion. Show to him/her that you take your professional development seriously by discussing your goals and ways you can start taking on additional responsibilities. Try and start taking on the work of the role above yours. Keep a track record of your accomplishments and feedback (L&I has a free template FYI under Resources in my bio!).⠀
🌱 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆: Research the company and learn about their mission, corporate values, and their offerings. Take their available certifications if available to put on your resume. Reach out and build relationships over time with people that currently work there to understand the culture and to let them know you are interested in working for their company. Get your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile professionally reviewed. Tailor your resume and yes, even your cover letter for the job you ultimately apply for.
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Both of these scenarios 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚. But don't let that discourage you. What's something you're looking to accomplish in your career in the next 6 months? Don't delay - it's never too early to start preparing. Plant the seed now and watch yourself grow these next few months. Soon enough, after some hard work and patience, those 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 will come🌷💋
[𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗘: 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸-𝗜𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘁] Let's chat career conversations with your manager 🤓
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How often are you having regular check-ins with your manager about your career development? At minimum, you should be meeting quarterly to review your performance and talk about your career progress. Don't wait until your annual performance review to do so! ❌ 𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 and put time on the calendar to meet periodically throughout the year 🗓
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Having these types of check-ins are essential to your professional success and it's important to go into them prepared with your own talking points. Enter the 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬-𝘐𝘯 worksheet ✔️This worksheet will help you to:⠀
➢ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 your manager that you take your career seriously and are willing to put your best foot forward⠀
➢ 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 on your goals and actions you're taking to get you to the next step in your career⠀
➢ 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 a productive conversation with your manager to discuss your wins, challenges, and what you want to work on in the months ahead⠀
➢ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 awareness to your work and a better opportunity to negotiate a promotion/raise/added benefits
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Interested? 😏 Download the FREE worksheet via the link in my bio under 𝚁𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚜 💋
I stand firmly by this career tip. Putting yoursel I stand firmly by this career tip. Putting yourself out there in the workplace and showcasing bits and pieces of who you are is critical to 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙.
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When I first started my professional career, I thought that I had to be a "version" of who I was at work. That I needed to always keep things "professional" and that it was "inappropriate" to talk about my personal life. 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴.
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By intertwining my professional and personal brands into one, I've been able to 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴, 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺. Here are ways you can share more of who you are at work:⠀
✔ 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐨: Whether it’s an internal-facing bio that's visible to your co-workers or the “About” section on your LinkedIn, take advantage of it! Go beyond just what you do for the company and talk about things you do outside of work and what you're passionate about.⠀
✔ 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤: Those few minutes before a meeting begins are a great opportunity to get to know someone, ask questions, and share something about yourself.⠀
✔ 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐨𝐧: Zoom fatigue is real, but having your video on is a great way for someone to get to know you better beyond just your voice.⠀
✔ 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: Even with many of us working from home, you can still show a bit of your personal style whether it's a crisp blazer, a statement jewelry piece, or your favorite shade of lipstick.⠀
✔ 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝: Tap into the groups within your company that interest you as it will allow you to meet more likeminded people and talk about things other than work.
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Don't hold back in putting yourself out there and sharing more of who you are. 𝙍𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙪𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙔-𝙊-𝙐💋
✨ 𝙽𝙴𝚆 𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙸𝙽𝚃𝙴𝚁𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙵𝙴𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙴 ✨  Meet Brittney.
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@bsoliver is a Nashville-based career and lifestyle freelance writer and content strategist. Over the past 3 years, Brittney has built her platform, @lemons_2_lemonade, to help young professionals turn their career obstacles around. Her platform is known for its networking mixers, which have brought over 2,000 professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives together to turn life’s lemons into lemonade.
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I met Brittney at her Chicago mixer back in Fall 2019 and was so impressed with her story and what she was building with Lemons 2 Lemonade. I immediately signed up for her newsletter and followed her on all of her social channels, where we've been connecting ever since! We actually just wrapped up a #L2LChat of our own, where we chatted about the changing job landscape due to the pandemic.
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What inspires me about Brittney is that she balances working full-time and freelance writing for publishers like Fast Company and ESSENCE. She’s  a thought-leader, having keynoted LinkedIn's first women of color conference in 2019 and was listed as Forbe's "Nine Black Women Leaders Dedicated to Empowering Others." Not only that, Brittney has so much heart for what she does and never gives up on herself. That was apparent to me after hearing her story of going on 100 interviews in an 8-month period.
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In all sense of the word, Brittney is crushing any and all lemons she comes across. I can't wait to see how much more lemonade she makes this year. You can read our exclusive interview via the link in my bio!💋
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